While they’re banning and restricting books in Florida, including Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem “The Hill We Climb” (the complainant having misidentified the author as “Oprah Winfrey”) and a shelf full of Jodi Picoult novels (which at least one complainant admits to never having read), we in the Upper Valley are doing something different. We are preparing to celebrate books. And poetry. And other narrative arts. Bookstock 2023 will launch on June 23 and continue through June 25 in Woodstock, Vermont.
As in previous years, there are some nationally-known headliners, including political satirist Andy Borowitz who will be appearing at Woodstock’s Town Hall, followed by an opening reception at Au Comptoir for chat and libations. USA Today Washington Bureau Chief and Biographer Susan Page talks “bad-ass women” with Vermont Public’s Mikaela LeFrak about the not-so-silent women of the Silent Generation, including Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Bush and the subject of her upcoming biography, Barbara Walters. And Speech Thomas, Grammy-winning rap artist, shares a film about his experiences in writing music with individuals incarcerated in maximum security jails.
The Upper Valley is replete with writers of its own who will be appearing at Bookstock: Jeff Sharlet, whose book The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War is everywhere, will be addressing the nation’s red/blue divide; mystery writer Sarah Stewart Taylor will be exploring our “current fascination with true crime.” UVM Professor and Black is the Body author Emily Bernard is in conversation about the risks of writing honestly in personal history along with Pushcart Prize Winner and Dartmouth Professor, Peter Orner, author of the critically acclaimed short story collection Still No Word from You.
Feeling writer-ish? Bookstock has workshops for those who already write or long to keyboard words onto screens. Among them is Joni B. Cole’s mini masterclass at the Soulfully Good Cafe based upon her book, Good Naked. (In a related but non-Bookstock appearance, another of her books, Toxic Feedback: Helping Writers Survive and Thrive, has just been re-released; its local launch is at the Norwich Bookstore, Wednesday, June 7. According to Joni: “ The book is focused on writers, but the insights apply to anyone who has to give or receive feedback, whether it's sending your undercooked steak back to the kitchen, or giving/receiving a performance review at work.”)
There’s actual food for bellies on the town’s Green and food for thought—about food—when @eatvermont founder Rocket sits down with cookbook author Martin Philip, Bakery Ambassador for King Arthur Baking Company, to explore “Going Local, Eating Global.”
Other narrative forms, like film, will get their due. Daybreak’s Rob Gurwitt will moderate a panel, “Storytelling in Vermont Through Film,” with filmmaker Jay Craven, co-founder of Montpelier’s Savoy Theater Rick Winston , and JAM’s Samantha Davidson Green. Jay says “I’m always happy to talk about movies and Vermont - and Rick Winston has inspired me since the day I landed in the state, in 1974. Should be fun.” Samantha adds:
“JAM . . . merged with WRIF (White River Indie Films) this year, finding new synergies to support local filmmaking and screen films in new ways. As a filmmaker myself (when time allows), I'm on a constant filmmaking learning curve that benefits from our growing film community here in White River Junction and statewide. I look forward to joining the august company of Jay, Rick and Rob in conversation about the state of VT filmmaking."
Who could have foreseen this? Author GennaRose Nethercott of the acclaimed Thistlefoot (NPR Best Book) will present her book in an unusual fashion in “The Thistlefoot Traveling Puppet Show.”
And finally . . . there really is no “finally.” Bookstock is too large and robust—over 70 authors and presenters—to be captured in a single Artful post. The complete schedule has just been released and can be found here. It’s worth a good long look. Something, or a handful of somethings, is sure to appeal. And don’t forget the parallel exhibition “Unbound” at Artistree in neighboring Pomfret, VT.
Most but not all Bookstock events are free; some are fee only. Venues are scattered across the town, all within a few minutes’ walk from the Green. Throughout the weekend, what is often referred to as “the mother of all used book sales” (those tables will be groaning under the weight of an estimated 10,000 to 14,000 volumes) will keep you busy ferreting out bargains and discovering a rare book or two. Bring a sturdy sac for schlepping those books home.
(Photos courtesy of Bookstock)
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And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.